Marshall's LaCrone Leads Herd Over Xavier at Marshall Classic

Senior Kolby LaCrone's two goals are enough for the Herd's 2-1 victory over the Musketeers.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Junior forward Kolby LaCrone (Zanesville, Ohio) recorded his second and third goals of the season to lift the Marshall University men's soccer team over visiting Xavier, 2-1, in the second game of the Marshall Classic Sunday evening at Sam Hood Field.

With the win Marshall improved to 3-3-0 and Xavier fell to 3-4-0.

The Herd started the game off scoring early in the first half. LaCrone received a pass from Sammy Boateng (Accra, Ghana) that led him to a one-on-one with the goalkeeper. LaCrone out maneuvered Xavier's Joe Diederich and placed a shot on the right side of the net to give Marshall the 1-0 advantage at the three minute mark.

LaCrone wasn't finished; nearly three minutes later JD Hill (Dublin, Ohio) sent a direct free kick into the 18-yard box that was headed by Nick Daniele (Columbus, Ohio) to LaCrone 10 yards out, who shot to the left side of the net beating a diving Diederich.

Xavier battled back to cut the Marshall lead in half after Josep Sagarra shot a direct free kick 35 yards out that deflected off a Marshall defender in the 34th minute.

After intermission, the teams played a scoreless second half. LaCrone had a chance to seal the Marshall victory and record a hat trick late in the second half. LaCrone's shot from a pass by Osric Flores (Everett, Wash.) was chipped up-and-over Diederich, but a hustling Doug Dalton of Xavier saved the attempt just before the ball crossed the goal line.

Xavier had their chances to tie the game, but Marshall goalkeeper Craig Ratanamorn (Wichita, Kan.), making his collegiate debut, shut down any offensive attack from the Musketeers in the second half recording six saves in the contest.

LaCrone led the Herd's offense with four shots on goal as the team collected 11 total shots with fellow forward Flores adding two.

Midfielder Sterling Flunder (Bothell, Wash.), fresh off his Farfield Inn-Bowling Green Hilltopper Classic All-Tournament Team award, recorded one shot, but made his presence known on defense as he contribute to the Herd's defensive success.

The Herd evened the all-time series against Xavier to 3-3-1.

The Marshall Classic continues, Sunday, Sept. 23 at 11 a.m.with High Point taking on Xavier. Marshall meets up with Western Kentucky in the classic finale at 1:30 p.m.

The Marshall game can be heard on the radio at WMUL 88.1 FM or on the internet at www.marshall.edu/wmul/. Game Tracker will also be available at www.herdzone.com.